Company
Lightyear is developing long-range solar electric vehicles. The architecture of the vehicle is based on Lightyear’s design philosophy.
The development of different components based on Lightyear’s architecture is being outsourced to specialised partners, as well as production, assembly and most of the testing activities. The only exception is the production of the solar roof which is done in-house.
With a laser focus on efficiency, Lightyear is developing the powertrain, thermal management system, and solar roof with integrated electronics. In order to deliver a convenient user experience, Lightyear is also developing the software architecture and user interface of the vehicle. These developments are protected by patents.
Key team members
To achieve our mission we work with over 100 dedicated people as a balanced team with both seasoned professionals and talented, young, high performing innovators. Are you driven and want to join our team?
Lex Hoefsloot — CEO
Co-Founder Lightyear, Founder Solar Team Eindhoven
Arjo van der Ham — CTO
Co-Founder Lightyear, developed core IP on Distributed-MPPT for most efficient solar array
Hans Heijmans — CPO
Former Executive Director Sourcing DSM and Volvo Cars
Johan Vos — CCO
Former Senior Director Service, Support & Operations EMEA - Tesla
Laurens Weers — CFO
Former CFO - Fatboy & eldoLED
Maijke Receveur — COO
2nd employee & guided organisational growth to 100+ people
Qurein Biewenga
Co-Founder
Koen van Ham — Chief Design
Co-Founder
Martijn Lammers — Chief Strategy
Co-Founder
Roel Grooten — Lead Vehicle Architect
Former Lead Engineer, Board Member - Donkervoort
Wim van Stratum — VP Operations
Former Program Manager - Inalfa Roof System
Rik Slingerland PhD — IP Manager
Former IP Specialist - FEI Company
Advisors
Our advisors provide valuable advice within their areas of expertise as well as helping to connect us to their network.
Bob O'Connor
Partner at Wilson Sonsini
Feike Sijbesma
Former CEO at DSM
Lowie Vermeersch
Founder/Creative Director at Granstudio
Former Design Director Pininfarina
Camilla van den Boom
Senior Strategy Director
Ton Backx
President Institute for Photonic Integration TU/e
Jelle Vastert
Former Director of Global EV Charging at Tesla
Located in the centre of high-tech innovation
Innovation is part of Lightyear's DNA. We are located at the Automotive Campus in Helmond - part of Brainport: the heart of Europe’s innovation.
Lightyear in numbers
2016
Founded in September
125
Employees
4
World Solar Championships
14
Nationalities
20
Patents filed to date
3.3
billion
Media coverage (reach globally)
Partners
For the development, production, assembly and testing of our products we work together with highly specialised and leading partners from the automotive industry. Lightyear will set up her own network for the delivery and service of her vehicles and works with different commercial partners in order to make sure you can share or lease a Lightyear vehicle everywhere. Other partners provide valuable legal, HR, IT and organisational advice, supporting the growth of our company.
Deloitte
Building high-performance teams & organisation. Buy-in B2B platform
Granstudio — Styling
Italian design studio led by Lowie Vermeersch (ex Pininfarina Chief Design)
CSi — Structural engineering
German engineering company
FEV
German engineering consultancy provides world class engineering services
LeasePlan — Lease partner
Provides extensive B2B network and market insights
EP&C — Patent attorneys
High-tech industry specilialists update & maintain our patent portfolio
Milestones
January 2020
Solar Impulse Label for Lightyear One
Lightyear is accepted by the Solar Impulse Foundation to receive the Solar Impulse Label, as one of 1000 efficient solutions aiming to bring about sustainable change.
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November 2019
TIME Best Inventions 2019
Lightyear One has been acknowledged as one of the 100 inventions of 2019 by TIME magazine.
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September 2019
Partnering with Deloitte
Deloitte buys 1 million sustainable car kilometres as part of their lease fleet.
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September 2019
LinkedIn Dutch Top Start-up 2019
Lightyear is named the best startup of 2019 in the Netherlands on LinkedIn.
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June 2019
Lightyear One Prototype Unveiling
The prototype of Lightyear One is presented at an unveiling for a live audience. The prototype showcases driving capabilities, system functionality and a sleek design.
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2019
Horizon 2020 Programme Grant
Lightyear is granted a €2.5M European subsidy, which offers financial support while we continue to work towards the launch of our first driving prototype.
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September 2018
Design Unveiling of Lightyear One
After months of preparation, the private Design Unveiling gives a first look at a life-size model of Lightyear One. The first physical solar roof and chassis prototypes are also presented.
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2018
CES Climate Change Innovator Awards
Lightyear wins a Climate Change Innovator Award at CES in Las Vegas. The award is in recognition of Lightyear’s huge potential to reduce the carbon emissions.
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2017
Postcode Loterij Green Challenge Finalist
Lightyear is named a finalist in the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. We win a prize of €100,000 and get support in growing our business from, among others, Rockstart and Erik Hiep.
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2017
Lightyear meets the public
Lightyear officially announces plans to the public, immediately gathering attention from across the world. The first reservations for Lightyear One are placed.
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September 2016
Lightyear is founded
Lex Hoefsloot, Arjo van der Ham, Martijn Lammers, Qurein Biewenga and Koen van Ham founded Lightyear and opened an office in Eindhoven to attract investors and team members.
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2015
Stella Lux is created
The second Solar Team achieves an unprecedented 1500-kilometer journey on a single charge and a second World Solar Challenge® championship title.
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2015
Stella wins a Crunchie
Stella wins the Crunchie for Best Technology Achievement at TechCrunch in San Francisco. The solar car beats Apple, SpaceX and Blockchain.
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2013
Stella wins 1st Bridgestone World Solar Challenge
The world’s first solar-powered family car is designed and built by 20 students of Solar Team Eindhoven and enters the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.
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